Tech, Autos, & Gear in Layman's Terms Since 2006

SuperTooth isn’t a well-known company here in the US. They should be. In Europe the company is extremely popular and, based on the SuperTooth Disco Bluetooth speaker we reviewed last year, they make come great products. Most recently, we’ve had a chance to check out the new SuperTooth MELODY Bluetooth Stereo headphones. These on-ear headphones are smaller than we have seen with BT on-ear products and, at $99 they have a lower price than we have seen. But at that price do they FEEL like sub-$100 headphones? Do they sound like sub-$100 headphones? Let’s take a close look.

From SuperTooth:

The SuperTooth MELODY is a portable headset stereo able to stream music from any Bluetooth A2DP device, including iPhone, iPad – or even iPod Touch. The SuperTooth MELODY is equally compatible with all other phones, PCs, and MP3 players that support Bluetooth A2DP. You can stream music wirelessly from any cell phone, computer, Mp3 player or tablet supporting Bluetooth A2DP. Its powerful speakers and ergonomic pads allow you to enjoy your favorite tunes anywhere, anytime.

Forget the wires, cables and other connectors; the SuperTooth MELODY is compatible with the latest versions of iPhone, iPad – or even iPod Touch. The SuperTooth MELODY is equally compatible with all other phones, PCs and Mp3 players that support Bluetooth A2DP.

When I first saw the headphones I couldn’t help but smile and laugh a bit. After all, they look like the Sennheiser MM450s we reviewed… just shrunk in the dryer. They are small! The ear cup is only as long as an iPhone 4S is wide. And they are light. And those qualities work well together. As the company notes

Ergonomic and user-friendly: With two rotative pads and an adjustable headband, the SuperTooth MELODY will fit comfortably on your head. This foldable, adjustable design makes it ultra compact. Once stored in its pouch, you can carry it easily.

My biggest complaint with the Harman Kardon BT headphones we reviewed last month were the controls. The recessed buttons were hard to use. That is certainly not the case here.

All of the controls, the play/pause, stop, track repeat or advance etc are right there on the ear cup and are easily accessed.

The company also placed the volume up and down buttons in a location that is easy to reach and logical. They even used soft material for them because it, “allows easier access and more comfort of use”.

The headphones can also be used to place or take phone calls thanks to the omni-directional microphone built into the front of the right side earpiece. While it is certainly not the best call experience we have seen, after all, without a boom bringing the microphone closer to your mouth it simply cannot be a stellar experience, it does work. I appreciate the added convenience.

The ear cups are made from soft leather. This adds comfort AND does a decent job of shutting our ambient noise. No, you aren’t going to get total sound blocking since there do not offer active noise cancellation, but they do shut out a fair bit of the world when you have them on.

Battery and power

Music play time:

7,5 hours

Stand-by time:

90 hours

Charging time:

45 minutes

Battery type:

Lithium-Ion

And if you missed the point that Supertooth is a superpower in Europe but is just making its mark here in the States check out the company’s use-scenarios…

Use the SuperTooth MELODY with a mobile phone: Thanks to its integrated microphone, you can use the SuperTooth MELODY as a hands-free kit. You’ll never miss a call, even if you are listening to music!

Use the SuperTooth MELODY with a computer: Listen to your favourite music while working at the office, or enjoy the sounds of your video games at home… all wireless!

Use the SuperTooth MELODY with a Mp3 player: Enjoy your favourite tunes in the underground when going to work, on Sunday mornings when jogging… or just anywhere, anytime!

That’s right! With the Supertooth MELODY you can listen to your favorite tunes while riding the underground on your way to drink a pint. 🙂 The company is big in the UK and, having now checked out two of their products I can honestly say they ought to be a big deal here. These headphones are small, compact, comfortable, offer all the bells and whistles you might want AND they will have a price under $100.

There are two areas of concern that arose for me. First, the headphones use BT 2.1 rather than the newer BT 3.0. Second, the headphones charge using the included “USB to tiny, proprietary lose it and you are out of luck” plug. What ever happened to microUSB?????

And since headphones have, in recent years, become a fashion statement, the company made sure there were a number of bright, bold color options.

Yes, the headphones have chrome trim and come in purple, pink, red and more.

I didn’t expect much from the headphones and I was happily surprised! The sound good and are quite comfortable. And they are priced right! You can learn more and get notified when they are released by clicking here.

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Having a father who was heavily involved in early laser and fiber-optical research, Dan grew up surrounded by technology and gadgets. Dan’s father brought home one of the very first video games when he was young and Dan remembers seeing a “pre-release” touchtone phone. (When he asked his father what the “#” and “*” buttons were his dad said, “Some day, far in the future, we’ll have some use for them.”)
Technology seemed to be in Dan’s blood but at some point he took a different path and ended up in the clergy. His passion for technology and gadgets never left him.